Though not part of the wedding procession, Ye Li originally did not need to attend her sister’s grand wedding. However, when Mo Xiu Yao sent Feng San to deliver the message, Ye Li believed there would certainly be an interesting show to watch. Moreover, she felt it necessary to personally communicate with her fiancé about Han Ming Yue’s matter, as good communication would help build mutual trust. After changing into appropriate attire, Ye Li had someone inform the Old Madam. Before she could leave, a servant came to report that the Prince of Ding had arrived to escort Third Miss.
The Old Madam, knowing Mo Xiu Yao’s condition, didn’t dare delay and quickly sent Ye Li on her way.
Outside the Ye manor gates, sure enough, a carriage bearing the Prince of Ding’s insignia waited. The young guard called A Jin immediately approached when Ye Li emerged, “A Jin greets the Princess Consort.”
Ye Li felt somewhat embarrassed. Although this was only their second meeting, she could tell this youth called A Jin didn’t seem particularly quick-witted. She nodded, saying a word of thanks as she boarded the carriage.
Mo Xiu Yao sat leaning against the carriage wall, head lowered reading a book. Seeing Ye Li enter, he casually set the book aside and smiled faintly, “Please sit. Were you frightened last night?” Ye Li sat across from him, smiling, “It was fine, thank you for rushing over.” Mo Xiu Yao seemed to recall something amusing, the faint smile in his eyes gaining authenticity, “Fortunately I went, otherwise I wouldn’t have known the Princess Consort had such capabilities.” Ye Li shrugged indifferently. She didn’t mind Mo Xiu Yao seeing certain aspects of her true nature – after all, they would be husband and wife, and many things couldn’t be hidden anyway. “Just a small trick, I hope Your Highness won’t laugh.”
Mo Xiu Yao frowned slightly, “Must we always use such formal titles?”
Ye Li looked up at him, somewhat confused, “Then what should we call each other? Master? My Lord? Husband? Dear Sir?” Before finishing, Ye Li shuddered. While these terms seemed fine when others used them, they felt incredibly awkward coming from her mouth. Compared to these appellations, Ye Li would rather follow convention and stick with “Your Highness” and “Princess Consort.”
Mo Xiu Yao smiled, “You can use my name.”
“Mo… Xiu Yao?”
“Xiu Yao,” Mo Xiu Yao corrected, “May I call you A-Li?”
Ye Li nodded, grateful he hadn’t chosen to call her Li’er. Truthfully, except from elders, she found it hard to get used to such intimate forms of address.
“I released that person from yesterday, you don’t mind?” Ye Li looked at Mo Xiu Yao seriously.
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, his expression relaxed as he smiled, “It’s no matter. Since you don’t hold it against them, let it be. After all, Han Ming Yue isn’t someone to be trifled with.”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow, “You don’t seem surprised at all about his relationship with Han Ming Yue?”
“In my youth, Han Ming Yue and I had some acquaintance.”
Ye Li understood – for Mo Xiu Yao to admit to “some acquaintance,” it must have been quite significant.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at Prince Li’s manor.”
Their casual conversation had brought them to Prince Li’s residence. Though neither was particularly talkative, Ye Li discovered that speaking with Mo Xiu Yao was never boring.
“A-Li.”
As Ye Li rose to disembark, Mo Xiu Yao suddenly called out.
Ye Li turned back, looking at him questioningly. Mo Xiu Yao gazed at her quietly, “Are you truly ready?”
“Ready for what?” Ye Li’s fine brows lifted slightly, momentarily unable to recall if she had forgotten something.
Mo Xiu Yao paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he said softly, “Nothing. Go ahead.”
With the Prince of Ding personally coming to offer congratulations, Prince Li’s manor naturally couldn’t be remiss in their reception. Especially now, when the Prince of Ding hadn’t appeared in the capital for nearly eight years, his attendance at Prince Li’s wedding could be said to give Prince Li considerable face. Moreover, according to the royal family hierarchy, the Prince of Ding, though of similar age to Prince Li, ranked a generation above him. Therefore, not only Prince Li himself but all the royal relatives attending the wedding came out together to welcome him.
The Prince of Ding’s estate hadn’t made any grand display. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the first to descend from the carriage was a young woman in purple. Her wisteria-colored dress was embroidered with elegant intertwining lotus flowers, her black hair loosely coiled, with jeweled butterfly hairpins glinting among the flowers. Just a slight turn of her face revealed delicate features with light makeup. Soon after, two guards lifted the curtain of the carriage and, as if weightless, lifted Mo Xiu Yao along with his wheelchair down from the carriage.
Mo Xiu Yao cast a bland glance at the seemingly stunned people at Prince Li’s gate, then turned his head to look at Ye Li standing beside him and extended his hand.
Ye Li raised her hand, allowing Mo Xiu Yao to hold it, while behind them A Jin had already begun pushing the wheelchair toward Prince Li’s gate.
“Ahem… Greetings to the Prince of Ding.”
Finally, someone reacted, glancing at Prince Li who was still staring fixedly at the approaching Prince of Ding with no response. The person who had recovered their senses cleared their throat slightly as if to remind the host to receive his guests.
“Greetings to the Prince of Ding.”
“Today is Prince Li’s wedding, there’s no need for such formality,” Mo Xiu Yao said warmly, then looked at Mo Jing Li with a smile, “Jing Li, congratulations.”
“Thank you!” Mo Jing Li glared fiercely at Ye Li standing beside Mo Xiu Yao, speaking through gritted teeth.
Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, “Aren’t you going to invite us in?”
Mo Jing Li could only step aside to let them pass, though he refused to utter another word. Mo Xiu Yao clearly understood Mo Jing Li’s temperament and looked up at Ye Li with a smile, “Shall we go in?” Ye Li smiled faintly, nodding without speaking. As she followed Mo Xiu Yao through Prince Li’s main gate, from the corner of her eye she caught sight of Feng Zhi Yao standing in an inconspicuous corner, smiling at the three at the entrance in a particularly… irritating way.
Inside Prince Li’s manor, Noble Consort Xian Zhao was also waiting personally in the main hall to receive them. Seeing Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li enter side by side, her eyes merely flickered briefly before she quickly rose with a smile and came forward, “It’s rare for Xiu Yao to come personally to Li’er’s wedding. This truly brings honor to Prince Li’s manor. It seems Xiu Yao and his future Princess Consort are quite close. When your wedding day comes, this Noble Consort will certainly present a generous gift.” Mo Xiu Yao nodded slightly, half of his face visible showing a respectful and gentle expression, “Thank you for your concern, Noble Consort. At that time, Xiu Yao will certainly await Noble Consort and Jing Li’s presence with respect.” Ye Li stood quietly beside Mo Xiu Yao, not interrupting. For some reason, since her last meeting with Noble Consort Xian Zhao, this seemingly gracious and kindly Noble Consort always made her feel somewhat wary.
“There are no outsiders here, Third Miss Ye, please be seated,” Noble Consort Xian Zhao did not forget to welcome Ye Li while conversing with Mo Xiu Yao. Ye Li thanked her softly and sat down beside Mo Xiu Yao, but unfortunately found herself directly opposite Mo Jing Li. Without needing to look up, she could feel Mo Jing Li staring fiercely at her, and being stared at in such a way under these circumstances aroused some irritation in Ye Li. Shouldn’t someone about to be married be busy to the point of dizziness? Why was this Mo Jing Li so idle as to sit here making small talk?
“Oh my, what’s wrong with Jing Li? Why do you keep staring at Third Miss Ye?” A somewhat grating female voice rang out in the hall. Ye Li frowned slightly and raised her head to look at the speaker. Though there were only seven or eight people seated in this great hall, those personally accompanied by Noble Consort Xian Zhao were certainly not ordinary guests – at least none that a young lady from the Minister’s manor like Ye Li could afford to offend. The speaker was also looking at Ye Li with phoenix eyes full of criticism, her phoenix-patterned peony brocade robes displaying her extraordinary status. As soon as she spoke, those who had been focusing their attention on the long-unseen Mo Xiu Yao instantly turned their gaze to Ye Li. Yet the speaker wasn’t prepared to let the matter rest, her shrewd phoenix eyes flashing with cold light as she laughed lightly and said in a sharp voice, “Come to think of it, this Princess almost forgot – isn’t Third Miss Ye Jing Li’s former fiancée?”
“Perhaps Jing Li is merely curious about the capital’s newest premier talented lady. Aren’t all the seated guests equally curious?” Mo Xiu Yao’s voice rang out faintly in the hall, seemingly gentle and without a trace of anger, yet conveying his protection of his fiancée. Ye Li lowered her head, silently watching as her hand was held by a slightly cool larger one.
“The Prince of Ding speaks truly. Third Miss Ye truly embodies the saying ‘silence before making a stunning debut.’ Thinking back, Madam Ye also had a quiet, uncontentious nature, but her literary talent and grace, even now, remain fresh in our memories,” the white-haired old lady seated at the front laughed heartily, her gaze toward Ye Li quite kindly. Ye Li smiled softly, “The Old Madam is too kind. I can hardly compare to my late mother’s grace; I only hope to inherit a fraction of it.” The Old Madam nodded approvingly, saying, “She’s a modest good child.”
“This is the Old Madam of the Hua Duke’s manor,” Mo Xiu Yao quietly introduced to Ye Li.
Ye Li finally understood – so this was Tian Xiang’s grandmother.
Then Mo Xiu Yao introduced each of the seated guests to Ye Li one by one. Unsurprisingly, they were either spouses of high-ranking officials or royal family members. The woman in brocade robes who had spoken first was the current Emperor and Prince Li’s aunt, Princess Zhao Ren, and also Princess Rong Hua’s birth mother. Thinking of Princess Rong Hua’s supercilious manner at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Ye Li could only sigh that they were indeed mother and daughter. She just didn’t understand why Princess Zhao Ren showed such obvious hostility toward her. It couldn’t be because of Princess Rong Hua, could it?
While Mo Xiu Yao was making introductions for Ye Li, those present also secretly reassessed this Third Miss Ye who had been rejected by Prince Li only to be betrothed to the Prince of Ding. That the Prince of Ding would personally introduce her to Da Chu’s most powerful nobles was enough to show his high regard for her. Therefore, except for Mo Jing Li whose expression had grown even worse, the atmosphere in the great hall remained characteristically harmonious and friendly.